Calls for change as thousands left waiting over a year for crucial heart treatment on NHS

Calls for change as thousands left waiting over a year for crucial heart treatment on NHSNew figures show more than 8,000 people in England are waiting over a year for cardiac care - a

28,571% increase since 2020.CommentsNewsFiona Callingham Lifestyle writer00:04, 21 May 2025The number of people waiting over a year for cardiac care has risen by 28,571% since 2020(Image:

Getty) A heart charity has called for change as startling new statistics reveal more than 8,000 patients in England have been waiting more than a year for cardiac care, marking an astounding

28,571 per cent increase since 2020.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) reported that the overall heart care waiting list in England surged in March 2025. At the end of March, there were 425,372 people awaiting "routine"

cardiac care in England, a rise from 421,683 in February.

‌ The list has nearly doubled since March 2021, when it stood at 216,978. However, there was a slight decrease in the number of people waiting 18 weeks or more, from 166,381 in February to

165,558 in March.

‌ The percentage of people on the list who have been waiting this long for what is considered time-sensitive cardiac care remains at 39 per cent. There was also a minor drop in the number of

people waiting over a year for cardiac care, to 8,028 in March, down from 8,342 in February.

But shockingly, in February 2020, there were just 28 people waiting this long. The BHF cautioned that the longer people wait for treatment, the "higher their risk of becoming disabled from

heart failure or dying prematurely".

Average ambulance response time for heart attacks and strokes was 28 minutes in April 2025(Image: Getty)Article continues below Doctor Sonya Babu-Narayan, a consultant cardiologist and

clinical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Despite progress to reduce waiting lists for other NHS treatment and care, the tide is not turning when it comes to cardiovascular

disease. Nearly four out of 10 people waiting more than 18 weeks, which is too long when it comes to heart conditions where timely care is critical.

"Long delays at this scale put people at risk of living in ill health or being unable to work due to heart failure which could have been avoided and having their lives cut short."

In April 2025, the average ambulance response time for heart attacks and strokes had slightly improved to 28 minutes from 29 minutes the previous month, according to the NHS England data.

The current goal set by NHS England for category 2 calls, including suspected heart attacks and strokes, is a 30-minute average response time for the 2025/26 period.

‌ However, this is an increase from the pre-pandemic target of 18 minutes, which was adjusted due to the intensifying pressures on the NHS rather than any change in the urgency of the

medical condition itself. Dr Babu-Narayan added: "But it does not have to be this way. Something can be done.

"Heart patients require a comprehensive National Cardiovascular Disease Plan to revolutionise emergency treatment and planned heart care, preventing further cases of heart disease. Investing

in science and technology will drive breakthroughs in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease."

‌ Earlier in the year, a new elective reform plan was announced by NHS England which is set to make routine care more accessible and faster. As part of this initiative, hundreds of thousands

of patients could be be directly referred by their GP for tests, checks, and scans for various conditions, eliminating the need to wait for a consultant.

Secretary of state Wes Streeting said: "As patients, we've all experienced the hoops you have to jump through to get the test or scan you and your GP know you need. It's a waste of patients'

time, delays diagnoses when every minute matters, and means consultants are forced to tick boxes rather than treat patients.

"The reforms we're announcing next week will speed up diagnoses and free up NHS staff to treat more patients. Our plan for change will cut waiting lists from a maximum of 18 months to 18

weeks by the end of this Parliament."

Article continues below According to the NHS England website, the plan aims to "reform elective care services and meet the 18-week referral to treatment standard" by March 2029.